Nick Kyrgios withdraws, cops heavy punishment for vile Wimbledon act

Nick Kyrgios has been hit hard for his gross Wimbledon act, copping a heavier punishment than any other player in London.

Nick Kyrgios continues to divide the tennis world. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Nick Kyrgios has copped a heavy fine for spitting towards spectators in his first round win at Wimbledon and withdrew from the doubles draw where he was supposed to play alongside good friend Thanasi Kokkinakis.

At the end of a fiery clash against Paul Jubb earlier this week, Kyrgios admitted to spitting in the direction of “disrespectful” spectators who had been giving him grief.

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“In the direction of one of the people disrespecting me, yes,” he said when asked if he spat towards the crowd. “I would not do that to someone who was supporting me.”

It was revealed on Friday morning Kyrgios has been fined $AUD14,400 for the vile act.

Fourteen players were included on the fines list released by Wimbledon today, but Kyrgios’ punishment was by far the harshest.

Alexander Ritschard copped the next biggest hit to his hip pocket, docked $7240.

Swear Kyrgios spits at some bloke in the crowd who was cheering for Jubb. 😆 Mad’ead! #Wimbeldon2022pic.twitter.com/gkQWHhv6BY

— Mark Conway (@MarkConway87) June 28, 2022

Kyrgios was in no mood to repent for his first round antics after clocking up another victory on Thursday night to march into the third round.

Asked after his straight sets win over Filip Krajinovic if he regretted his actions at the All England Club, Kyrgios left nobody in any doubt about where he stood.

“Why would you be asking me a question about two days ago? Is it because you have no story for today?” he said.

“I just feel like I’m comfortable in my own skin. Some people love to just tear me down. It’s just not possible anymore.

“I just want to give people who watch this press conference or watch my tennis to just believe in yourself, be yourself, don’t be someone else up here either. Don’t just say what you’ve been told to say.

“I couldn’t care less if there is an investigation about me doing that (spitting), to be brutally honest with you. I know what I bring to the sport.

“I’m one of the most important people in the sport. Do you want to speak about that? Nothing to investigate there because it’s just factual.”

How far can Kyrgios go at Wimbledon?

Kyrgios won the Australian Open doubles title alongside Kokkinakis but flagged after defeating Krajinovic his singles charge might have to take priority at Wimbledon this year.

It was soon confirmed the “Special Ks” would not be stepping onto the court together at the All England Club.

“I’m a singles player. My priority has always been singles,” Kyrgios said on Friday. “I’ve made quarter-finals here before, I’ve won singles titles.

“I played nearly four hours in my first round. Me personally, it was just too much time on court.

“Today, I made up for that. But I want to put my singles as my priority. I’m doing what’s best for my body.”

In his pre-tournament press conference last weekend, Kyrgios suggested he wasn’t too enthused about the prospect of going from best-of-three sets doubles at Melbourne Park to best-of-five at the All England Club.

In an unusual quirk, Wimbledon is the only major on the calendar featuring best-of-five sets in men’s doubles.

“To be honest, I’m not really looking forward to playing best-of-five sets doubles,” Kyrgios said. “I think it’s the stupidest thing ever, to be brutally honest.

“I don’t know why it’s best-of-five sets.

“No one wants to play best-of-five sets doubles, no one wants to watch best-of-five sets doubles.

“I’m excited, but I’m also dreading the fact that if it’s one-set all I’m going to have to be playing three more sets of doubles.

“That’s why I haven’t played it before, it doesn’t make sense because I’ve always gone pretty well here in singles.

“I’m not going to, on my off day, play potentially five sets of doubles.”

There will be no repeat of the Special Ks’ heroics at Wimbledon. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Kyrgios was unhappy with the criticism he copped after arguing with the umpire, calling a line judge a “snitch” and spitting at fans in his opening win against Jubb and on Friday morning, he took aim at the media.

“I’m just really sick of the media right now. They’re just nitpicking all of my matches. So today was about just being locked in. I joked with them just then ‘I love that you’ve got nothing to write about today’,” the Aussie star said.

“I just feel like people just don’t give me the respect sometimes because of other things that I do.

“There was just nothing the media possibly could tell me I did wrong today.

“I just know that you can’t possibly ask me anything and stir anything up. And I love it because then you can’t write anything.

“What are you going to say? Nothing today. Dumbfounded, all of you.”